The Fruit of the Spirit

I work in the produce department of a small grocery store and I have seen my fair share of rotten fruit in my almost twenty years doing that kind of work.  It is easy to recognize when fruit is bad on the outside, but sometimes the fruit may look good on the outside and still be rotten inside.

I wonder sometimes exactly what kind of spiritual fruit am I bearing.  I know that it is the Holy Spirit's job to produce that kind of fruit in my life, but I know that sometimes the fruit that I end up producing is rotten because of my failure to walk in the Spirit and I allow my fleshly nature to get in the way of God's work in my life.

I want to do good, but I fail a lot.  I want to live a Godly life and produce Spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  In my own power I can't produce this kind of fruit no matter how badly I want to.  The Holy Spirit is the one that produces this fruit within us.  We must submit to His lead and His direction.

I fail to walk in the Spirit at times and I fail to submit to God's will for my life.  I sometimes act out in my fleshly sinful nature.  I get angry, frustrated, lustful and even self-centered when I obey the sinful nature.  We must humble ourselves and recognize that we are not producing the fruit that we should be producing when we fail to walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

We need to repent and confess our failings to the Lord and know that He forgives us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus and His finished work on the Cross for our sins.  There is none of us that does good.  We all stumble and fall at times even if we have come to know Christ as our Savior, but thankfully if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

Sometimes I wonder what kind of fruit is being produced in my life?  If there is any good that comes out of my life I want to give all the glory and praise to the Lord for I know my heart and it is not good.  It is only through the Holy Spirit that any good fruit can be produced in this wretched man such as I.

I am thankful that God doesn't give up on us.  I am glad He loves us despite our failures and falls.  I am thankful that Jesus is there to pick us up when we stumble and I am thankful that He is only a prayer away.  What an Awesome God we serve!

I want the Lord to produce good fruit in me through the Holy Spirit and I know He will and I believe He will produce good fruit in you as well when we submit ourselves to Him and His lead.  Let us walk in the Spirit and give no attention to the fleshly desires.

Lord,
There is a war being waged in my heart.
I want to live a life honoring to You, but I fail so often.
Please forgive my sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Thank You Lord for Your forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
I praise Your Name.
Holy Spirit I surrender myself to Your will.
I pray that You would produce love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control in my life for Your Glory.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen.